1 Samuel 20:24-26

EXPOSITION

OPEN HATRED OF SAUL AGAINST DAVID ( 1 Samuel 20:24-34 ).

The king sat him down to eat meat. Hebrew, "the king sat down at the bread to eat." On sitting at table see 1 Samuel 16:11 . And Jonathan arose. When the king had taken his usual place, that of honour, next the wall, and therefore farthest from the door, Jonathan arose and took his place on one side of the king, while Abner sat on the other. David's place below them was left empty. The omission of the statement that Jonathan sat down makes the passage obscure, and the versions bungle in rendering it, but there can be little doubt that these words ought to be supplied. He is not clean. Saul supposed that some ceremonial defilement (see Le 1 Samuel 15:2-16 ) had befallen David, and as the new moon was a religious festival, this would necessarily prevent his attendance.